[LifesGood]

No your baby doesn't sound easy to me, but you sound like you have a very positive attitude and are able to focus on the love and joy you feel for your baby.

You are very lucky to feel this way as many first time mums don't. I certainly didn't with my first, but I did with my second. Both of my babies I would class as 'easier' than yours, so it really is down to how you deal with it.

Good on you and keep enjoying yourself.

Oh, and some would say it gets harder as they get older - certainly newborns are not able to cause much mischief! But I have found it is actually more enjoyable as my babies have got older as they become even more interesting and develop distinct personalities.

[CallMeProtart]

Glad you're enjoying it

Possibly he's easy. Some babies are - although I probably wouldn't have rated some of the things you've mentioned as particularly easy. But on the scale of things it's probably not the worst ever. DD was 'difficult' as she had colic for hours every night, and it's just a heartbreaking thing to see your child in pain and be unable to comfort them. DS was easy peasy - he slept lots and needed little entertainment. And then at 5 months he forgot how to settle and became very difficult indeed, till about 9 months. But that still doesn't match the emotional trauma of colic.

But possibly a part of it is that you're easy. i.e. some people just enjoy certain stuff. It sounds like even the things I find hard, you are coping with well.
I have friends who love the newborn phase, they really enjoy it. I loathe it. I would hate feeding 12 times a day and waking 6 times a night, let alone for 4 hours. It would drive me nuts. I think it's because I struggle with repetitive activities, with broken sleep, and with unpredictability, and the newborn cycle is so short and unpredictable.
On the other hand I adore the toddler phase. Still couldn't do it every day, but I think my kids are super easy now. Probably it's because they really are - they play together and entertain themselves. But maybe I just like this phase more too, I like the communication/residual cuteness combination.
Obviously other people enjoy the whole shebang, and can actually spend 7 days a week with their kids. Some others enjoy it even when they're up to 10 kids or so. Whereas that would actually kill me.

Horses for courses. Sounds like he's not 'difficult' as such, but you're adjusting well and really enjoying him, which is lovely

[tamietamara]

Firstly congrats on your new bub and that you r enjoying the whole experience so much. They really are little miracles and change our lives forever more.

Now, everyone has different tolerance levels for everything in life. What you find easy or enjoyable, others will certainly not. What you have explained of your daily routine sounds fairly normal, if not a little harder than normal, compared to the only personal experience I have had (my own two newborns). The amount of times to you are getting up at night for example seems a lot, but that is just from my experience.

I personally tell all of my pregnant friends to expect the first month to be hell on earth and that they may hate the whole thing and that after one month it gets easier. By about 3 months they will prob be in love with the whole experience and it only gets easier from then on. I tell them this, not to scare the bejesus out of them , but to give them the info I wish someone had given me. Many people go into parenthood with no one telling them that it is ok to not be hyped up on positive mummy hormones the whole time and that days of being sad or lonely or wishing a little break for themselves is perfectly normal. It isn't necessarily PND to hate things occasionally. I certainly wished someone had prepared me for this so I wouldn't have gotten such a shock. The fact that your experience has been a positive one is awesome, but doesn't help those who are feeling a little alone and want to know they aren't the only ones with those feelings.

I think your mummy's group is prob a little bit annoyed at your overly positive attitude. I say this not to be a cow, but to tell you that sometimes people just want to know that they rent the only ones having a bad day etc. Having you telling them that your version of events is super easy or not challenging at all an much easier etc is prob a little condescending to be truthful. I have the lowliest mummy's group that I have been very lucky to be a part of for 4 years now and I know that someone constantly sprouting things like this would be a little annoying after a while. Not to say you can't enjoy being a mummy, of course ou can and you should be proud. But to constantly be replying to their whining with positiveness may be getting under their skin.

Enjoy our bub and motherhood but just remember that everyone's experience and tolerances are different and that you don't want to be known as one of "those mothers"......

[tamietamara]

Firstly congrats on your new bub and that you r enjoying the whole experience so much. They really are little miracles and change our lives forever more.

Now, everyone has different tolerance levels for everything in life. What you find easy or enjoyable, others will certainly not. What you have explained of your daily routine sounds fairly normal, if not a little harder than normal, compared to the only personal experience I have had (my own two newborns). The amount of times to you are getting up at night for example seems a lot, but that is just from my experience.

I personally tell all of my pregnant friends to expect the first month to be hell on earth and that they may hate the whole thing and that after one month it gets easier. By about 3 months they will prob be in love with the whole experience and it only gets easier from then on. I tell them this, not to scare the bejesus out of them , but to give them the info I wish someone had given me. Many people go into parenthood with no one telling them that it is ok to not be hyped up on positive mummy hormones the whole time and that days of being sad or lonely or wishing a little break for themselves is perfectly normal. It isn't necessarily PND to hate things occasionally. I certainly wished someone had prepared me for this so I wouldn't have gotten such a shock. The fact that your experience has been a positive one is awesome, but doesn't help those who are feeling a little alone and want to know they aren't the only ones with those feelings.

I think your mummy's group is prob a little bit annoyed at your overly positive attitude. I say this not to be a cow, but to tell you that sometimes people just want to know that they rent the only ones having a bad day etc. Having you telling them that your version of events is super easy or not challenging at all an much easier etc is prob a little condescending to be truthful. I have the lowliest mummy's group that I have been very lucky to be a part of for 4 years now and I know that someone constantly sprouting things like this would be a little annoying after a while. Not to say you can't enjoy being a mummy, of course ou can and you should be proud. But to constantly be replying to their whining with positiveness may be getting under their skin.

Enjoy our bub and motherhood but just remember that everyone's experience and tolerances are different and that you don't want to be known as one of "those mothers"......

[Sunnycat]

My DS was relatively easy, although his sleeping got worst as he got older. Apart from doubting myself, I actually didn't find the first 6 weeks too hard. I remember when he was 3 weeks old I was really confused with conflicting advice but I never found it too difficult, like some of my friend's experienced, I think the fact that DS rarely cried helped heaps.

DS is now 14 months old and people keep telling me how I need "me time" but at this point in time I have no desire to be away from him.

He is still a pretty easy going kid, but I admit I'm struggling with breastfeeding him at the moment because I'm finding it really painful. His sleep is still all over the shop but I have to say, he rarely cries so I don't have much to complain about it.

ETA: I thought it was going to be a lot worse than it is. I'm really enjoying my time with DS. His sh*t sleeping does get me down though.

This post has been edited by Sunnycat: 20/12/2012, 09:21 PM

[~chiquita~]

Enjoy! You've got an easy baby.

DS never chucked on me, he settled immediately after night feeds and slept all the time. I found the first 3 months almost boring! So many people kept asking how I was coping, was I getting enough sleep, the first 3 months are the worst etc. I was coping fine and getting plenty of sleep, although he didn't sleep through the night until he was 9 months old. I didn't start to feel tired until he was 4 months old and started staying awake longer after his 6am feed.

DS was my first (and only) so that certainly made things much easier.

[Pup-pup]

Your baby doesn't sound 'easy', it sounds like you are just coping great! Good on you. I don't manage with lack of sleep and generally found the newborn stage very difficult.

[HurryUpAlready]

I felt the same after DD was born. We had little issues here and there but nothing that left me feeling overwhelmed. I didn't feel sleep deprived or exhausted, she wasn't a good day sleeper but I still felt I had plenty of time to myself and she was flexible enough to get out whenever I wanted. I didn't understand at all why other mums found it so challenging.
Then I had DS. Completely different baby and I guess it didn't help that I had a toddler to look after too but I finally realized why some other mums struggled.
So, for me it was the DD was just an easy baby. Maybe your DS is too. Enjoy it! Because it might still change!

This is what I'm worried about!!

My DD is 10.5 months old now, and has been the easiest baby.

She woke once per night at about 2am for a quick feed, then at 5-7am for a feed and back to sleep (in bed with me once DH was up) til 9-10am. I had heaps of sleep, probably more than pre baby when I was up early for work.

We've had no sleep / feeding issues, she never cried (I have still never been up with her crying for more than a few minutes) - touch wood. She is an easy, delightful little girl!!

Some of us are just lucky OP.

Thus I'm terrified that #2, if we are blessed with another, will be the absolute opposite!


PS. OP, it does get harder. Crawling is a challenge (I can never take my eyes off Miss Independant), and the 5am wake ups are somewhat tiring! I'm having the odd nana nap these days for the first time since DD was born. All good fun though.

[Anlawich]

No, your baby doesn't sound easy. My DD1 was about 100 times easier than what you've described. LOL.

Now if my DD2 was born first, she'd be an only child. Certainly not easy!!

Enjoy.

[Spring Chickadee]

I wonder if part of this is due to struggling with thyroid issues for years- therefore feeling exhausted and run down constantly. At the moment my thyroid levels are normal, therefore I feel normal which is awesome in comparison to how I felt before.

I also overprepared for the baby. Read a million books, did a Calmbirth Course (2 day drug free birth course), 6 week hospital course and an ABA course. I wanted to be as ready as humanly possible.

I think your mummy's group is prob a little bit annoyed at your overly positive attitude. I say this not to be a cow, but to tell you that sometimes people just want to know that they rent the only ones having a bad day etc. Having you telling them that your version of events is super easy or not challenging at all an much easier etc is prob a little condescending to be truthful. I have the lowliest mummy's group that I have been very lucky to be a part of for 4 years now and I know that someone constantly sprouting things like this would be a little annoying after a while. Not to say you can't enjoy being a mummy, of course ou can and you should be proud. But to constantly be replying to their whining with positiveness may be getting under their skin.

See this is where I'm having trouble. I'm finding myself almost embarrased about how well it's going for me, especially when another mum is sharing her difficulties then asks 'How are you coping with XYZ Spring Chickadee?'. I know they are looking for understanding and another mum who feels the same, but When I don't I can see a look of confusion or disappointment from them. I Don't want to come accross as the overly cheery seemingly fake new mum. But I genuinely do feel good.